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Date: 01 January 2008 21:28:24
On Christmas Day, among the parcels I opened were several books that I had been waiting to read for some months. Hurrah! It was now possible to escape into another world again and find out what my imaginary friends had been up to since their last adventures had appeared.
First off the blocks was Terry Pratchett's latest offering: Making Money. I really tried to read it slowly, to savour the language and enjoy the pictures, but I mostly failed. I got too involved in the plot, trying to figure out what Moist Von Lipwig would do next. It was very much a follow-up to Going Postal, a book I have a sentimental attachment to, given that it was published the week before our wedding and I queued up to get a copy signed the day before.
Making Money was good, and it was Pratchett, but I was left feeling rather less than fully satisfied and I'm not sure why. Maybe the main villain was a bit two-dimensional, maybe Adorabelle Dearheart really annoys me, maybe I just didn't care about whether the bank survived or not. Who knows? As I say, it is still Pratchett and his off-days are much better than most people's best. I'll have to read it again and see if it improves with acquaintance.
The second Christmas book was the next instalment in my secret vice: Diana Gabaldon books. Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade is the second full-length Lord John mystery. Devoid of all the time travel shenanigans of the main Jamie and Claire series, it is a straightforward historical murder mystery, set in the 18th century. Straightforward it may be, but 'straight' is absolutely the last word to describe it: Lord John and sundry other characters are gay and the plot revolves around their various exploits in London and across the continent. DG's books always have wonderful excerpts from reviews in the front which, if you know what to expect from her writing, are very funny. She is quite the most explicit author I read and her books are always educational, if you know what I mean. It's trash and I love it.
So, I was two books down and it was only the 27th. Should I pace myself with the remaining two or press on? I have no willpower when it comes to fantasy, so I continued with Voice of the Gods by Trudi Canavan. VotG is the third in a trilogy. By the time I got to reading it, I was into full-on addiction to reading mode so I don't recall an awful lot of the plot. I like her use of different points of view and it was thoroughly entertaining. I had figured out the twist by about halfway through so much of the ending was a bit obvious. There were some nice uses of information that we had been given earlier and the returning characters were great. It was a fitting end to the trilogy, but I much prefer the world of her first trilogy: The Magician's Guild, The Novice, The High Lord.
I'm saving my new Robin Hobb book for after the next essay. See I have some willpower after all. In the mean time, I am rereading some Patrick Robinson: Submarine fantasy trash. I must go and see what he is going to blow up next.
On reflection, perhaps I should resolve to read something of substance this year. Some Dickens perhaps?
Happy New Year